Grave cribber



J. E. BROWN GRAVE GRIBBER Jan. 24, 1939.

, Filed May "7, -1957 2 sheets-shet 1 Jan. 24, 193.29.l J, E, BROWN' 2,145,152

GRAVE CRIBBKER Filed May 7, .1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 mmmmm" Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in grave cribbers.

It quite often happens that a grave opening is dug in close proximity to a previously made grave and consequently the retaining dirt wall between the opening and the grave is of very narrow width, and that the pressure of water in the previously made grave will break down the retaining wall.

Among the several objects of this invention are to provide means for draining the water from the previously made grave into the newly made grave opening; and to provide a cribbing which will support the retaining wall against collapsing and which is capable of adjustments to fit any size grave opening within the usual limits.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cribbing,

Figure 2 is an elevation of a portion thereof,

Figure 3 is a vertical section showing a grave and a grave opening, together with draining means and cribbing in operative positions,

Figure 4 is a top plan View thereof,

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the application of my invention to a grave opening situated intermediate closely adjacent graves,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the drain device, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail section showing the application of my drain device in a retaining wall.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several gures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a grave opening formed in the ground B adjacent a previously formed grave C and having therebetween a narrow retaining wall D. Water E is present at the bottom of the grave C and unless this water is removed, the narrow retaining wall D will break down under the water pressure, and to prevent this occurrenceI have provided a draining device F which comprises a spike 5 and a sleeve 6 therefor. 'Ihe spike 5 comprises a shank 1 of indeterminate length having a tapered or pointed front end 8 and a head 9 at its opposite end. The sleeve 6 loosely fits over the shank 'I and the front end is tapered as at IIJ to partially surround the front end 8 of the spike, the extreme pointed end of the spike projecting beyond the front end of the sleeve. These parts when assembled are driven through the retaining wall D as a unit, as shown in Figure '7, and the spike 5 is then retracted leaving the sleeve 6 extending entirely through the retaining wall D so as to permit the water in the grave C to pass therethrough and into the grave opening A.

In order to assure the retaining wall D against collapsing, I have provided a cribbing structure which is shown in detail in Figure 1. This cribber comprises spaced longitudinal plates G and H which are'of like construction, and end plates I, I which are of like construction. These plates are preferably formed of sheet metal and the longitudinal platesV G and H are each formed by longitudinally extensible sections II, I2 which have their inner ends disposed in overlapping relation and have slidable engagement with each other through the medium of upper and lower guides I3, Id xed to the plate II, and upper and lower guides I5, I6 fixed to the plate I2. The end plates I, I are attached to the plate G through the medium of vertically disposed hinge pins I'I, I 8 whereby the plates I, I may be swung inwardly against the longitudinal plate G in order to compact the same for transportation purposes. Each end plate I is formed of two extensible overlapping sections I9, 20, the section I9 being connected to said hinge pins I1, I8, the sections having slidable engagement with each other through the medium of upper and lower guides 2 I, 22 xedto the section I9, and upper and lower guides 23, 24 fixed to the section 20. The section I2 of plate G is provided with a series of openings 25, in any one of which a stop pin 26 is adapted to be positioned for cooperation with the adjacent end of the section II and thereby retain the sections II, I2 against relative inward movement. Each section of each end plate I is provided with a series of openings 21, in any one of which a stop pin 2S is adapted to be positioned for cooperation with the adjacent end of the section I9 to thereby limit the relative inward movement of the section 20. The outer end of each section 2li of the end plates I is provided with an inwardly extending foot 29.

Secured to the inner face of the section I I of the plate G adjacent the inner end thereof, is a plurality of spaced brackets 30 in which is journaled a vertically disposed shaft 3l having an angular upper end 32 adapted to be engaged by a wrench 33. Secured to the inner face of the section II adjacent the hinge pin I1 are upper and lower brackets 34, 35 having rollers 35, 31 journaled thereon. Secured to the section I2 adjacent the hinge'pin I8 are upper and lower brackets 38, 39 having rollers 40, 4I journaled thereon. A cable 42 has one end xed to the shaft 3| and this cable thence extends around the roller 36, thence around the roller 40, thence around the roller 31, thence around the roller 4 I, and has its other end connected to said shaft. Thus when the shaft 3| is turned in one direction by the wrench 33, the cable will be tensioned and the plate G will be bowedoutwardly. VIn order to retain the plate G in its outwardly bowed relation, I have provided a ratchet wheel 43 on the shaft 3| and have associated therewith a pawl 44 which is pivoted on the upper bracket 30.

The plate H, as above stated, is identical with the plate G but it is not provided with the end plates I, I. The plate H is adapted to be positioned between the end plates I, I and in overlapping relation with the feet 29, 29.

After the grave opening A has been dug, the cribbing is placed therein in the position shown in Fig. 3. The longitudinal plate H may or may not be employed depending on the working conditions. In positioning this cribbing the plate G is positioned against one longitudinal wall of the grave opening and the end plates I, I are positioned adjacent the end wallsof the opening with the feet 29, 29 resting against the opposite longitudinal wall of the opening as shown in Fig. 4. In view of the fact that the plates G, H and I are all extensible, it will be apparent that the cribbing may be readily applied and properly fitted to a grave opening of any size within the usual limits. After the cribbing has been positioned, the operator turns the shaft 3| in the proper direction by means of the wrench 33, and causes the plate G to bow outwardly against the surface of the retaining wall D, the bending stress of the plate G being resisted by the end plates I which bear against the opposite longitudinal wall or surface of the grave opening. The outward bowing of the plate G reduces its normal length and this causes the end plates I to incline towards the ends' of the plate G. Thus, if the plate H is also employed, it will be retained in position by the inclined end plates I, and the subsequent outward bowing of said plate H upon turning the shaft 3l thereon will be resisted by the inclined end plates I.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a grave cribber, a plate adapted to be positioned against the longitudinal wall of a grave opening, and means bodily carried by and disposed in substantial parallelism with said plate for bowing said plate outwardly against said wall, said means comprising a centrally located vertical shaft mounted on the inner face of said plate, rollers journaled on the inner face of the plate adjacent the outer ends thereof, and a cable trained around the rollers and connected at its ends to said shaft.

2. In a grave cribber, a plate adapted to be positioned against the longitudinal wall of a grave opening, and means mounted on the inner face of the plate for bowing the central portion of the plate outwardly against said wall, said means comprising a centrally located vertical shaft mounted on the inner face of said plate, rollers journaled on the inner face of the plate adjacent the outer ends thereof, a cable trained around the rollers and connected at its ends to said shaft, and means for retaining the shaft in any position of rotation.

3. In a grave cribber, a plate adapted to be positioned against the longitudinal wall of a grave opening, means for bowing said plate outwardly against said wall comprising a centrally located vertical shaft mounted on the inner face of said plate, and means cooperating with the ends of the plate and with said shaft for bowing the plate outwardly against the longitudinal wall of said opening and for retaining said plate in its bowed relation, and end plates connected to the longitudinal plate and adapted to extend across the grave opening from one side wall thereof to the other.

4. In a grave cribber, a plate adapted to be positioned against the longitudinal wall of a grave opening, and means for bowing said plate outwardly against said wall comprising a centrally located vertical shaft mounted on the inner face of said plate, rollers journaled on the inner face of the plate adjacent the outer ends thereof, a cable trained around the rollers and connected at its ends to said shaft, and means for retaining the shaft in any position of rotation and end plates pivotally connected to the longitudinal plate and adapted to extend across the grave opening from one side wall thereof to the other to thereby maintain the ends of said longitudinal plate against lateral movement.

5. In a grave cribber, a longitudinally extensible plate adapted to be positioned against the longitudinal wall of a grave opening, extensible end plates pivotally connected to the longitudinal plate and adapted to extend across the grave opening from one side thereof to the other, a longitudinally extensible plate adapted to be positioned between theend plates and against the other longitudinal wall of said grave opening, and respectively independent means mounted on and bodily carried by the inner face of each longitudinal plate for bowing the central portion of each longitudinal plate outwardly against the associated wall, said means comprising a centrally located vertical shaft mounted on the inner face of said plate, rollers journaled on the inner face of the plate adjacent the outer ends thereof, a cable trained around the rollers and connected at its ends to said shaft, and means for retaining the shaft in any position of rotation.

6. In a grave cribber, a longitudinally extensible plate adapted to be positioned against one longitudinal wall of a grave opening, extensible end plates pivotally connected to the longitudinal pla-te and adapted to extend across the grave opening from one side thereof to the other, a longitudinally extensible plate adapted to be positioned between the end plates and against the other longitudinal wall of said grave opening, and means extending longitudinally of and bodily carried by the inner face of each longitudinal plate for bowing the central portion `thereof outwardly against the associated wall.

JOHN E. BROWN. 

